The BBC could freeze the salaries of its highest paid stars as it battles to reign in spending over the coming years.

The corporation will have to make cuts if, as expected, the government hands it a licence-fee settlement below the rate of inflation. It has been criticised for lavishing money on big-name presenters, including Jonathan Ross and Anne Robinson. But the era of big spending could be over once negotiations over the level of future funding are concluded.

Last week it was reported that Chancellor Gordon Brown had rebuffed the BBC's plea for a big rise, despite lobbying by culture secretary Tessa Jowell. Although a final decision has yet to be approved by the cabinet, the government is poised to agree a deal which would give the BBC a 3 per cent rise in each of the coming two years, 2 per cent for the following three and less in the sixth. Inflation is currently around 3.9 per cent.

The deal means the £131.50 licence fee will rise to £148 by 2012. The BBC had asked for inflation plus 1 per cent, which would have resulted in the licence rising to £180. Last year, details of salaries paid to key BBC staff were leaked, prompting demands for their pay to be published by the Corporation.

High earners include Anne Robinson, who is thought to receive around £3m, Jonathan Ross (£2.8m) and Graham Norton (£2.75m). In its licence-fee submission, the BBC argued that it had to pay market rates to attract talent. The salaries of newsreaders have also been criticised by the BBC's own journalists. Huw Edwards is believed to earn £250,000 for presenting the 10 O'Clock News on BBC1, while Fiona Bruce is thought to be on around £150,000.

They top up their wages with outside interests. Many TV personalities earn sizable sums from guest appearances and commercial endorsements. Mouse Inc, a company owned by newsreader Emily Maitlis that lists its function as 'entertainment activities', recorded a turnover of £186,000 last year, up from £80,000 in 2004 and a measure of Maitlis's increased bankability since her promotion to Newsnight

Paradox Productions, Fiona Bruce's management company, revealed an end-of-year bank balance of £199,000 in accounts that were filed last week at Companies House.